When two objects are rubbed together, electrons are transferred from one

object to the other. One object becomes positive and the other negative. A
non-contact force exists between charged objects.

Positive and negative charges

Atoms and electrons

All substances are made of atoms. These are often called particles. An
atom is electrically neutral - has no overall electrical charge. However,
each atom contains even smaller particles called electrons.

Each electron has a negative charge.

If an atom gains an electron, it becomes negatively charged.

If an atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged.

Electrons can move from one substance to another when objects are
rubbed together. You may have done this with a party balloon: if you rub a
balloon on your sweater, you can get the balloon to stick to the wall or to
your hair. This is because of static electricity.

Moving charges

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A Van de Graaff generator produces static electricity, which makes your
hair stand on end

When you rub two different materials against each other, they become
electrically charged. This only works for electrically insulated objects and
not with materials like metals, which conduct. For example, if you rub an
acetate plastic rod with a duster:

electrons move from the rod to the duster

the duster becomes negatively charged and the rod becomes

positively charged

The opposite thing happens with a polythene rod:

electrons move from the duster to the rod

the rod becomes negatively charged and the duster becomes

positively charged

In both examples, the materials gain an equal amount of charge but the
charges are opposite (one material becomes negative while the other
becomes positive).

Forces from static electricity

A charged object creates an electric field. You cannot see an electric

field, but it surrounds the charged object. If another charged object is
moved into the electric field, a force acts on it. The force is anon-contact
force because the charged objects do not have to touch for the force to
be exerted.

Repulsion and attraction

Two charged objects will:

repel each other if they have like charges (they are both positive or
both negative)

attract each other if they have opposite charges (one is positive

and the other is negative)

This is often shown using plastic rods and a duster:

1. one of the rods is hung from a clamp stand using a thin thread

2. both rods are rubbed with a duster

3. the free rod is held close to the end of the hanging rod, and the
effect observed

The slideshow describes how this works:

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Two identical plastic rods have like charges. The hanging rod turns away
from the other rod.

1. 1

2. 2

Showing that an object is charged

Charged objects will also attract small, uncharged objects. This is why a
charged plastic comb or ruler, or a party balloon, can pick up small pieces
of paper.

The only way to tell if an object is charged is to see if it repels another

charged object.

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